The tall pine trees around me sway with the wind as I sit motionless in the frost covered brush awaiting my adversary. I think to myself in anticipation of what I would do if a creature with imposing strength were to stumble upon my range of view. Would I attempt to land an arrow in its hide, or am I to run? Maybe I could even stay put where I am and hope for the best that it doesn't see me. It really matters none the less considering my hovel is not far from here. I would...my thoughts were cut off. As in the distance, I heard the crackling of frozen grass and crunching leaves. I knew not of what had made the noise, but slowly and carefully, I had drawn an arrow from my quiver and readied it to my bow. I hear footsteps coming closer. Oh divines. They sound incredibly heavy. My body tenses up a bit as the sounds of the beast get louder...and closer. From behind a rock emerges an owlbear. My mind raced into a panic, yet my body lied still and tranquil. It sniffed the air and looked as if it had caught a whiff of my half-elf flesh. I knew not of what to do. Okay, I can shoot it with an arrow or run. It knows I'm here, so I mus'nt stay.
The beast caught my gaze and we stared upon each other for a moment. Then, it quickly stood on its hind legs and screeched in challenge. It charged at me and thoughtlessly, I had released my arrow unto it and had impaled it's upper torso and briefly, the beast halted. It looked at me as if the arrow had not hurt it, but made it angrier. Its shoulders heightened and posture flared, making it seem more menacing. I then dropped my bow and at this moment, we had stood face to face. And at once, the bear stood up and lunged its arm at me with a speed that would seem almost impossible. I somehow managed to dodge its swing and sprung up from behind it. I figured I couldn't beat this monster with simple combat. So quickly, out of my satchel, I attempted to grab a scroll of fireball. But I was thwarted soon enough. The beast had turned and slashed at my chest hitting me up in the air and knocking me back five feet, leaving a bloody scratch from one side of my chest to the other. And topping that, everything from my satchel had sprawled out upon the dirt before where the bear stood. Of all things he could've done, the bear takes my bag of tricks. It gravely stepped above my belongings as if it was challenging me to attempt to take one. And, of course, the scroll I needed was beneath him as well.
I quickly fumbled to my feet, unsheathed my cutlass, and flourished the blade. This action had caught the owlbear off gaurd and it was thrown back for a second in surprise. So in this small time, I conjured up a spell called flash, an old getaway thieving trick. It summoned a flame in one hand and with the other, I shielded my eyes, waiting for the spell to work. And within a split second, the fire turned into a white orb pulsating and flashing, then exploding, releasing a blinding light that dazed the bear for a few seconds. It's retinas grew in size as it lumbered around clawing at its eyes. Suddenly, I dove for my scroll and with the the spare time I had, I drew a well placed attack on its neck. It wasn't enough to kill the beast, but enough for it to bleed out soon. I hastily opened up the scroll and read the enchantment aloud while it disintegrated in my palms. I've been wanting to use this for a while now...and from both of my hands grew a ball of flame. One surely strong enough to defeat even the strongest of giants, and flung it at the owlbear. It hit him with an explosion that's power had flung its body back twenty feet, with the bear taking extra damage from hitting a tree, and dropping from a high distance. I casually walked up to the owlbear that had crawled to its knees. It was bleeding out and wheezing, while staring back at me with a weak look. One look where it was as if I were to feel sympathy for the beast. I thought of how the bear would've killed me, if we're in the same position. So without hesitation, I lifted my blade above its neck and slashed down upon it, beheading the creature.
I stared at the beast, cursing it for the scar it left on my chest, and for dropping all of the items from my satchel. I soon turned around to go pick them up. I retrieved my potions, scrolls, books, and coin from the floor angrily and turned back to the bear analyzing what could be salvaged from it to go and sell at a market. I knelt in front of it and started removing its claws, beak, and eyes, placing them in a small area in my satchel. Then I walked over a bit and wrapped a rope around the beasts head and fastened it to my belt. By the Nine, this will be a bothersome task, I thought to myself as I then started to try and drag the bear. This monster is outrageously heavy. Maybe I have something that will help me. I reached in my satchel in search of a solution and remembered that I had acquired a potion of increased strength. This should make my trip easier I presume. As I drank the elixir, I felt my entire body enlighten and my wound feel a bit more bearable, so I continued what I was doing before and dragged the decapitated body of the bear to my camp.
When I arrived, I immediately started addressing my wound. I cleaned it up a bit with some water and used a few herbal tricks and petty spells that I'd learned from an old assassin friend of mine I met a while back. If only he'd of had something for big wounds, then we'd be in business. Oh well, I'll just have to use what I have. I grabbed a thick piece of cloth from my tent, knowing that this wound was more important than the shelter, and wrapped it around my chest, concealing the wound and applying pressure to it. Maybe I'll just have to wait this one out. Well at least I hope I do, because at the moment, I can think of nothing that could help me. And, I might as well get my mind off things, so maybe a meal would help a bit. I hear owlbear meat is actually edible. So I made a roast from its carcass and lied down for a bit, staring ponderously at the sky above me thinking of when to leave for town tomorrow. Maybe I'll leave sometime in the morning. That always works out the best for me. So I better get working on this hide before nightfall is upon me. I went outside and carefully skinned the beast and cleansed the hide at the best of my abilities, then left it outside to dry, although there isn't much daylight left, but what can I do about that. And also I might just have to check and figure out what these other items are worth. I grabbed the beak of the beast and thought if I would get something good out of this, for this could be valuable due to it being a trophy. Some merchants do know people that want stuff like this hanging about in their domain, I believe, which is weird, but I won't protest, for it could make me a hefty profit. Then I reached in the same pouch and grabbed the claws and eyes. I stared at them for a bit and thought if they could make up a potion of some sort. Maybe this town has a alchemist that could help me. That would be great, but right now, I need a healer of some sort take care of the soon to be scar on my chest. I need to get that back to normal before anything permanent happens.
Well I should probably lay to rest for the night . I will head to town early tomorrow, so I should fret not about going to sleep this early in the day. But, after all, that only means tomorrow will get here quicker.
If you would like to see more, please be patient, there will be a lot more coming to this story. And if you have any suggestions and/or corrections, I am open for discussion.
